Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Behind the Paywall

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  • 3410,

    90% of The Times' online audience has gone.

    Yikes! Quite a gamble, isn't it?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Dave Patrick,

    Coincidentally, Denis Welch had some commentary on the handling of letters yesterday, and said that The Press does a much better job than anyone else, and actually makes a virtue of its letters page.

    Yes, it does make a big deal of its Letters page (almost two pages in the Saturday edition), but has he actually read the Press letters page? There's not a lot of enlightenment or reasoned discourse there - "All sound and fury, signifying nothing" would describe it quite well.

    Rangiora, Te Wai Pounamu • Since Nov 2006 • 261 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    and actually makes a virtue of its letters page.

    You mean like any newspaper worthy of the name would? That's so rad!

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    (Although, in the interest of moderating the snark a little, I don't have proper access to The Press in print form but it does seem from the bits I see on Stuff to be much better than the local Fairfax offering. Its recent articles on GDP versus social wellbeing have been heartening.)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    Sir Arthur Streeb-Greebling (Peter Cook): ... It was shortly after World War Two.

    So it does exist ... in our collective imaginations.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    panel beaters ...

    Of course. I would point out that the comics press seems to have warmly embraced the Marvel Comics app on the iPad. I think graphic media are going to work really well on this device.

    but can you print from the iPad?

    can one on-sell a bought digital comic?

    and where will that leave comic collectors?

    it was bad enough when pulp-paper editions and
    Ben Day dots disappeared...

    I guess comics may become truly ephemeral...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Phil Lyth,

    Denis Welch had some commentary

    Can you point me in the right direction please? Not having any luck finding him by myself

    Wellington • Since Apr 2009 • 458 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    but can you print from the iPad?

    There's a variety of printing solutions, but I'm not sure how or if they apply to the Marvel app.

    can one on-sell a bought digital comic?

    I don't think so from the Marvel app, but there's nothing to stop indie publishers from enabling that if they choose.

    and where will that leave comic collectors?
    it was bad enough when pulp-paper editions and
    Ben Day dots disappeared...
    I guess comics may become truly ephemeral...

    I suppose it leaves print comics in the same place as vinyl LPs, which still sell. OTOH, it really is a great comics experience.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    I suppose it leaves print comics in the same place as vinyl LPs, which still sell.

    I'm about to sell a whole bunch of comics, but looking at Trade Me it seems the only comics getting bids are mostly Commando comics for some reason, of which I have none...

    OTOH, it really is a great comics experience.

    I still think a comic is the artefact, this new method of engaging is another interface experience altogether - but I'll see if I can find an iPad
    with it sometime just to check it out... :- )

    ...and having just spent the past 4 days taking all the books out of the old three floors Smith's Bookshop site* - I can't help thinking my back
    would feel better if they'd all been digitised...
    ...and I am impressed by the number of bananas eaten in Chch!
    as I managed to find enough banana boxes from helpful supermarkets every day (apart from South City New World who wanted 70c a box!!) to keep the outflow of books at a steady pace...
    I guess you'd say I was a DoleĀ© Bludger...

    *worry not bibliophiles, they have only moved half a block to a single floor site at 117 Manchester Street, with a lot less dross...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    *worry not bibliophiles, they have only moved half a block to a single floor site at 117 Manchester Street, with a lot less dross...

    But... that was part of the beauty of the Smith's experience, the feeling that the entire three floors could fall on you at any moment, drowning you in a flood of foxed spotty smelly dross which would contain a handful of absolute gems. Blimmin' progress.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I still think a comic is the artefact

    As with music and movies, the coming years should prove interesting as increasingly they become units of experience that you can go back to any time you like without having to "own" a physical object.

    Of course we still need real broadband (waiting, Mr Joyce) and industries who have fully adapted their business models.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Fox pass...

    Blimmin' progress.

    So true...
    Once the shelves come off the walls I'd have serious worries about the integrity of the building (which is to be earthquake strengthened next)...
    and I did find a few bookish gems as we went along, heck I even got a really nice old Epidiascope that had probably languished unseen for many years...
    Surprisingly I didn't see one silverfish (that's silverfush to kiwis...) I suspect they have fled, sussurating into the cold streets of the City That Doesn't Care searching for the starch that keeps Christchurch so stiff...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • martinb,

    Sorry Russell...I was apologising, and trying to justify my thread hjack with the letter by noting I wouldn't use the Herald's online comments, elevating the print edition...

    aimed at me not others....

    Auckland • Since Jul 2010 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    Were you the 'dross-filter' (as well as the biblio-transporter) Ian?
    There was a swag of history in that shop. And many a pleasant afternoon on the third floor, deciding if I wanted to buy something (for a pittance) by reading it first :)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Were you the 'dross-filter' (as well as the biblio-transporter) Ian?

    Ian has quite the eye for old books, actually. He's sorted me out more than once ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    Ian has quite the eye for old books

    Not doubting that for moment :)
    I always felt customers at Smiths operated like gold prospectors- sifting through and extracting the best bits, leaving a steadily increasing proportion of tailings.
    So plenty of dross.
    But whenever you looked hard (as opposed to popping in for something specific) there'd be a swag of dusty books you hadn't previously realised you were very curious to read.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    filter feeding...
    on Sunday all books were free, but people still managed to spend hours and only took one book, way to much restraint folks...!!
    but then there was the young artist living in her
    van who grabbed at least 8 boxes of National Geographics - now that's the spirit!
    I took a further 8 boxes of Nat Geos to Creative Junk... but after that it was filters off and if it ain't damp it goes in a box and out the door to various places - many will show up at the Super Shed and church fairs... and some will be recycled...
    - though I did put a few aside that I thought you might like Russell...
    ...to steal an early Robert Crumb Hallmark
    Greeting Card - "I was putting the rubbish out,
    when I remembered your birthday...
    ...expect a small package in the mail soon!"
    :- )
    and it isn't one of the signed Andy Haden books that we seemed to be knee deep in at one point....

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Ashby,

    @Russell

    It does surprise me that The Guardian and the FT will write this stories without getting technical background from their own web people, who'd be able to tell them.

    Well the good old Graun seems more than willing to let it's general, sports and odds and sods journos write articles on science without consulting their excellent Science team, so why should Tech stuff be any different? I expect that professional jealousy is the problem. Would you give an Aspberger's specialist editorial rights over a piece for eg?

    Dundee, Scotland • Since May 2007 • 425 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I suspect they have fled, sussurating into the cold streets of the City That Doesn't Care searching for the starch that keeps Christchurch so stiff...

    lovely

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Phil Lyth,

    the signed Andy Haden books that we seemed to be knee deep in

    So is dear wee Andy becoming the Ted Heath of NZ? With unsigned books going for 20x the price of the signed ones?

    Wellington • Since Apr 2009 • 458 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Your present location is...

    I'll be buying an iPad on Friday (also my birthday!) and I'm looking forward to it.

    Whenever we want to know exactly where you are we can just ask Steve Jobs...
    ... "To provide location-based services on Apple products, Apple and our partners and licensees may collect, use, and share precise location data, including the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device."
    Many happy returns...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Interesting timing on the Times paywall news - my stepmother-in-law passed away in the UK a fortnight or so ago and was "important" enough for the Times to run a full-page obituary on her.
    So my wife hit the web to read this tribute to her stepmum but even obituaries are behind the paywall. Classy, thanks Mr Murdoch.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Phil Lyth,

    How bizarre. Martin Snedden has provided a 180-degree 'clarification' to the Sunday Star Times in a statement which is not on the RWC site. The SST reports:

    Snedden [said on Media7] "The answer is absolutely no. We were not obligated to provide a party central."

    However, he provided a written statement to the Sunday Star-Times yesterday headed "clarify my Media 7 comments".

    "Auckland has a contractual obligation to RWC 2011 to provide a fan zone in a waterfront CBD location, the location of which, as a result of the recent agreement between Government and the ARC [Auckland Regional Council], will be on Queens Wharf, something which we fully support and are delighted about."

    Wellington • Since Apr 2009 • 458 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    "To provide location-based services on Apple products, Apple and our partners and licensees may collect, use, and share precise location data, including the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device."

    Hence Apple's new slogan - "Those who have nothing to hide, have nothing to fear."

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Hence Apple's new slogan - "Those who have nothing to hide, have nothing to fear."

    Sigh ... There are plenty of location-based services on the internet already. And you can always simply decline.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

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